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Former Grand Valley State gridiron great Cullen Finnerty has been nominated for and is on the ballot for election into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2018 it was announced today. Finnerty, who tragically passed away on May 27, 2013 of pneumonia while on a fishing trip, is one of 26 nominees on the 2018 ballot.
Cullen Finnerty sported an incredible 51-4 record for Grand Valley State on the football field, which included three Division II National Championships. Cullen led the Lakers to national titles in 2003, 2005, and 2006, capping off his career with an undefeated record in each of his final two seasons. Grand Valley State won the final 28 games of Finnerty's career, as he ran for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of his final game, a 17-14 championship victory over Northwest Missouri State in 2006. Cullen was the first-ever Division II quarterback to throw for 10,000 yards and rush for 2,000 yards in a career; only one other quarterback has done it since. Not only did he throw for 110 career touchdowns, but Finnerty ran for another 31 scores for 141 total touchdowns accounted for. When his career ended, Cullen ranked third in Division II history with 13,275 total yards and nearly 10 years later he still ranks ninth in that category. In 15 career playoff games, Finnerty and the Lakers went 14-1, while he either passed or ran for 34 touchdowns in the postseason. He was a 2006 First Team All-American and finished as the runner-up in the Harlon Hill voting, the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. Grand Valley State went 14-1, 10-3, 13-0, and 15-0 in Finnerty's four seasons as the starting quarterback.
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is comprised of 337 former champions, medallists, and great contributors to the world of sports. The original organizers were Lt. Governor Philip A. Hart, Michigan State University Athletic Director Biggie Munn, Donald Weeks, President of the Greater Michigan Foundation, W. Nicholas Kerbawy, General Manager of the Detroit Lions and George Alderton of the Lansing State Journal who conceived of the project.
Mission Statement
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is committed to impacting our communities and inspiring people by celebrating & honoring the traditions, legacies and history of sports throughout the state of Michigan.
